Nora and Hae Sung, two deeply connected childhood friends, are wrest apart after Nora’s family emigrates from South Korea. Twenty years later, they are reunited for one fateful week as they confront notions of love and destiny.
“Past Lives” begins toward the end of the film, so to speak, which serves the movie well because of the way the backstory ties in so intimately with where things wrap up by the closing credits. Three young adults sit at a bar in New York City, having an awkward, disjointed conversation. It’s not clear why or even what is happening. No matter – the audience is given little time to make any assessment because literally a moment later, the narrative jumps back 24 years to Seoul, Korea.
Young Nora (Moon Seung-ah) is an inquisitive and emotive 12-year-old living in Seoul with her parents. She has an unspoken connection with her childhood friend, Hae Sung (played in adulthood by Teo Yoo), with whom her parents allow her to go out on a “date.” The bond they create suggests two childhood sweethearts who will spend the rest of their life together. Soon after, however, Nora’s parents emigrate to Canada, seeking better opportunities, which takes her life in an entirely different direction.
Twelve years later, Nora (Greta Lee) still lives with her parents, played by Ji Hye Yoon and Won Young Choi. Unexpectedly, Nora learns that Hae Sung has reached out to her, and the two reconnect via Skype. They spend several minutes getting reacquainted, though the conversation feels uneasy and somewhat strained twelve years on. Without much warning, Nora tells Hae Sung as gently as she can that she thinks it would be best if they did not speak to each other again, at least for a while.
Fast-forwarding another 12 years finds Nora, now residing in New York working as an artist, married to Arthur (John Magaro), a sensitive Jewish man who adores her. The couple has settled into a comfortable, modest lifestyle on Manhattan’s East Side.
Once more, and again after over a decade, Hae Sung reaches out to Nora. He reveals his plan to spend a week in the city, hoping to see her. When Nora and Hae Sung agree to meet in person, Arthur is surprisingly supportive. During Hae Sung’s stay at a nearby hotel, he and Nora reexamine why they grew apart, aside from the apparent physical separation. As is often the case, they had inadvertently sent mixed signals years back through mutual friends and social media after Nora’s move to Canada.
The third act returns viewers to the opening shot of the three adults at the bar, apparently talking with one another. However, it has become clear by this point that although Arthur can speak and understand some Korean, and Hae Sung knows a bit of English, the real communication occurs through Nora, who selectively translates her dialog to each of the men sitting beside her. The scene is a masterful and original display of dramatic filmmaking prowess by first-time director Celine Song, who also wrote the screenplay. “Past Lives” unfolds a little slowly at first but expertly brings home its themes dealing with choices made, paths not taken, and the role of fate in life – all of which transcend easy predictability.
In Theaters Friday, June 2nd
